Fabien Cousteau

Growing up as the grandson of legendary ocean explorer Jacques Cousteau, Fabien Cousteau was destined to follow in his family's footsteps, working to explore the oceans and preserve the beauty of our important marine habitats and wildlife. With vast experience in the field, and a background in environmental economics, Fabien Cousteau believes that reforming public policy through innovative ideas can preserve these precious habitats. Fabien has worked with National Geographic, Discovery, PBS, and CBS to produce ocean exploration documentaries from 1998-2006. Fabien is routinely seen on network television. Read More >

T. Jackson Kaguri

Born and raised in Uganda, T. Jackson Kaguri is a human rights activist and expert on navigating some of the most challenging obstacles to providing education. By taking a holistic approach to meeting the needs of multiple generations in his community, Jackson has affected major change in his native country from the inside out. Jackson has been named a Heifer International Hero, recognized in Time Magazine's 'Power of One' Series, and spoken to the United Nations about his work. In 2012, he was named a CNN Hero and recognized internationally for his innovative work in human rights. Read More >

Rebecca van Bergen

Rebecca van Bergen is the founder and Executive Director of Nest, a New York City non-profit organization that is working side-by-side with the world's most promising artisans, to sustainably develop their small businesses while simultaneously promoting peace, prosperity, and female empowerment. By empowering artisans with the modern tools, training and market access necessary to revive their crafts, Rebecca was determined to create a place of prestige for ancient artisanship within world of modern high-end retail and designer fashion and founded Nest at the young age of 24. Read More >

Tom Serres

Tom Serres is CEO and founder of Rally.org, the largest online fundraising platform specifically for causes. He is one of country’s leading thinkers on entrepreneurship, social giving, the cause economy, and digital fundraising. Recently named one of America’s Most Promising CEO’s under 35 by Forbes, Tom has helped millions of supporters connect with nonprofits, advocacy groups, political campaigns, and individual causes to raise awareness and money online. In only a few short years, Rally.org has helped over 50,000 organizations raise nearly half a billion dollars over the internet. Read More >

Spike Lee

Spike Lee is an Emmy Award-winning and Academy Award-nominated writer, director, actor, producer, and author who revolutionized the role of Black talent in cinema. Widely regarded as one of the most influential filmmakers of the last century—and more specifically a premiere African-American filmmaker—Lee is a forerunner in the 'do it yourself' school of independent film. Always an outspoken advocate for human rights, systemic change, and challenging authority, Lee is widely recognized as one of the most prominent voices of our time. Read More >

Michael Kim

Mike Kim is a management consultant, author, inspirational speaker and former Managing Director at Ferrazzi Greenlight. He is the author of the "Wall Street Journal" featured book "Escaping North Korea," a memoir about his experiences undercover at the North Korean border helping the oppressed escape via a modern-day underground railroad. Kim has presented everywhere from Dartmouth to the Senate, currently helps the U.S. Government understand the intricacies of international illicit networks, and is a Member of the Council on Foreign Relations. Read More >

Ellen Gustafson

Ellen Gustafson is known to many as co-founder of the international charitable brand FEED, which has distributed over 60 million meals to children in need via school feeding programs. As an internationally recognized sustainable food system activist, an award-winning innovator, and a social entrepreneur of global proportions, Gustafson's most recent endeavor, Food Tank, is focused on building a global community for safe, healthy, nourished eaters. Her first book, "We the Eaters," was released in May 2014 to great acclaim. Read More >

Meredith Fineman

Meredith Fineman is the founder and principal of FinePoint. FinePoint was founded in 2011 to modernize the field of public relations, incorporating the increasing need for digital strategy as part of publicity. FinePoint specializes in PR strategy, media advising, content development, highly targeted earned media, and personal brand development—innovating beyond more traditional approaches to PR. FinePoint works with many individuals to find their voice, both online, in print, and in their businesses and areas of expertise. Read More >

John Jacobs

John Jacobs is co-founder and the Chief Creative Optimist of The Life is good Company. The Boston, MA-based lifestyle brand spreads the power of optimism and helps kids in need by donating 10 percent of its net profits to The Life is good Kids Foundation. Jake is a drawer and designer and is the creator of Life is good's iconic logo, Jake. At the age of five, John created his first poorly spelled and crudely drawn book. After college, he immediately began designing and selling t-shirts to supplement his income. In 1994, with a combined sum of just $78 in the bank, John and his brother Bert officially launched Life is good. Read More >

Phil Gordon

Business & Tech Mogul, World Poker Champion, Venture Capitalist, Serial Entrepreneur and Author Phil Gordon is, by all accounts, a modern day renaissance man. To date, his efforts and the generosity of thousands of poker players worldwide have raised more than $3.3 million dollars for cancer prevention research. His most recent venture, Jawfish Games, is bringing real-time competition to social gaming—changing not only the way we play games, but the way in which we view the concept of "gaming" as a whole. Phil currently serves as CEO and founder of Chatbox.com. Read More >

Michael Slaby

In 2012, when the Obama administration began gearing up for re-election, one of the first calls went to Michael Slaby, who was chief technology officer in 2008—when the historical campaign leveraged the internet and social media to raise funds and organize volunteers in ways that had never been seen before. What resulted was not only a successful re-election, but a revolution in the way politicians, organizations and brands use social media to engage their audiences. Currently, he is Managing Partner of Timshel—a company working to help solve social and humanitarian problems via better technology. Read More >

Peter Sims

Peter Sims is an award-winning, best-selling author and entrepreneur who specializes in disruptive innovation and creativity. His most recent critically acclaimed book, "Little Bets: How Breakthrough Ideas Emerge from Small Discoveries," is currently changing the way we look at decision making, whether personal or professional, in our own lives. He frequently speaks or advises at corporations, associations, and universities, including Google, Eli Lilly, Pixar, ConAgra, GAP, Cisco, Current TV, Amazon, and Stanford. He previously coauthored the Leadership best-seller "True North." Read More >

Barbara Corcoran

It's hard to believe that a self-made billionaire has a background that includes straight D's through school and a waitressing gig in her mid-20s. With the determination to change her life, Barbara Corcoran borrowed a $1,000 to start her professional journey to what is now known as one of the most recognized real estate brands in the world. Barbara brings her experiences in the entrepreneurial world to help the next generation of self-starters, engaging with each audience as only she can. She is also one of the stars of ABC's "Shark Tank." Read More >

Tiffany Persons

Since Shine on Sierra Leone's inception seven years ago, Tiffany Persons has been named a United Nations Woman of the World and has unleashed and overseen groundbreaking education, healthcare, microlending, adult literacy, computer literacy, sustainable building, and agriculture programs in one of the world's most challenged regions. She has spoken at Chicago Ideas Week, keynoted various events from university series to conferences and meetings, and has been featured in various popular domestic and international press including "Elle," "Vibe," and People.com. Read More >

Frank Schaeffer

Frank Schaeffer is a New York Times best-selling author of more than a dozen books. The son of an evangelical intellectual who galvanized the religious right between the 1940s and 80s, Frank Schaeffer has been searching for years for a coherent religious identity after fundamentalism—and he keeps getting closer. By the time he was nineteen, Frank had joined his father on the evangelical circuit and was speaking before thousands in arenas around America. Frank now speaks on the impact of religion on politics, and his journey towards progressive politics and religion. Read More >

Suzanne Petroni

Suzanne Petroni is a world-renowned leader, thinker, and speaker on a range of global health issues ranging from resource shortages to population growth. The former Vice President of the Public Health Institute, her writing has appeared in countless publications along with appearances on NPR. Petroni recently joined the International Center for Research on Women to direct programs centered on population issues and women's reproductive health. She addresses domestic and international audiences on an array of health and sustainability topics. Read More >

Esther Perel

Because of her insight on effective communication—from the boardroom to the bedroom—Esther Perel is recognized as one of the world's most original and insightful voices on personal and professional relationships and the complex science behind human interaction. Fluent in nine languages, the Belgian native is a celebrated speaker with expertise in relational health and communication, emotional literacy, work-life balance, cross-cultural relations, conflict resolution, sexuality, and identity of the modern family. Esther has been widely featured in the international press Read More >

Josef Sorett

Josef Sorett is a member of the faculty at Columbia University, where he is an Assistant Professor of Religion and African-American Studies, and Associate Director of the Institute for Religion, Culture, and Public Life (IRCPL). Josef is also the founding director of the Center on African American Religion, Sexual Politics and Social Justice (CARSS), which is located within Columbia's Institute for Research in African-American Studies (IRAAS). He has a special interest in how ideas about religion inform broader conversations about culture and society. Read More >

Jason Russell

As the creator of one of the most recognized nonprofits in the U.S., Jason Russell, the director of the #Kony2012 documentary, has devoted his life towards the pursuit of warlord Joseph Kony. #Kony2012 is one of the most viral videos of all time, and the movement it sparked renewed a sense of activism for young adults in the pursuit of international justice. Jason's life-changing trip to Uganda in 2003 spawned multiple films and viewings nationwide and internationally, with IC's advocacy efforts resulting in U.S. legislation passed in 2013 to assist in the arrest of Kony. Read More >

Jeffrey Miron

Dr. Jeffrey Miron is a scholar on economic policy and libertarianism. He is Senior Lecturer and Director of Undergraduate Studies in the Department of Economics at Harvard University, and he also serves as Director of Economics Studies at the Cato Institute. Dr. Miron's commentary on economic policy has appeared on CNN, CNBC, MSNBC, NPR, Bloomberg, Fox, BBC, and dozens of other television, radio, and print media around the world. Dr. Miron's area of expertise is the economics of libertarianism. Read More >

Alezandra Russell

As Founder & Center Mom of Urban Light, Alezandra declared war on sex-trafficking and child prostitution in 2010 when she made Chiang Mai’s Red Light District her new office. After witnessing the absence of services available to young boys who were victims of trafficking, she made helping them her mission. Since March 2010, Alezandra has worked tirelessly to build a movement of support for teen boys via the Urban Light Youth Center which acts as a safe haven to an at-risk population of boys by providing education, housing, healthcare services and night outreach. Read More >

Laura Roeder

Laura Roeder is a social media marketing expert who teaches small businesses how to become well-known and claim their brand online. She is the creator of "Your Backstage Pass to Twitter," and "Creating Fame," as well as the author of "Facebook Fame: The Facebook Marketing Bible For The Small Business." She is widely considered to be one of the leading young experts in the world of online branding and marketing. In 2011, Laura was named one of the top 100 young entrepreneurs in the US age 30 or younger and was invited to speak at the White House. Read More >

Susan McPherson

Susan McPherson is a serial connector, passionate cause marketer, angel investor, and corporate responsibility expert. Recently, she launched McPherson Strategies, a communications consultancy focusing on the intersection between brands and social good, and continues to consult for Fenton as a strategic advisor. Susan has more than 25 years experience in marketing, public relations, and sustainability communications. Susan is also a regular contributor to the Harvard Business Review, Triple Pundit and Forbes. Read More >

Yaba Blay

Dr. Yaba Blay is one of today’s leading voices on global skin color politics and colorism. As a researcher and ethnographer, she uses personal and social narratives to disrupt fundamental assumptions about cultures and identities. Her creative work as a producer uses images to incite dialogue and inform consciousness that leads to action and transformation. Dr. Blay is the author of "(1)ne Drop: Shifting the Lens on Race" and artistic director of the (1)ne Drop project. In (1)ne Drop, she explores the interconnected nuances of skin color politics and Black racial identity. Read More >

Shaifali Puri

Shaifali Puri is the former Executive Director of Global Innovation at NIKE Foundation, where she helped drive innovation across all aspects of the Foundation's work. Before that, as the Executive Director of Scientists Without Borders, Shaifali raised millions of dollars to support open-source innovation in the sciences with partners that range from Johnson & Johnson to Pepsico. At NIKE, Shaifali continued her quest to address some of the world's most pressing challenges—ranging from health to innovation, from poverty to gender equality, and beyond. Read More >

Rob Stewart

Rob Stewart is an international award-winning documentary filmmaker. His debut film, "Sharkwater," garnered 36 awards at the most prestigious film festivals around the world, making it the most award-winning documentary of the year. Rob's second film, "Revolution," won the Audience Award for Best Documentary at the Vancouver and Atlantic Film Festivals in fall 2012, took third place at the Vancouver International Film Festival and also had showings at Cannes. Before Sharkwater, Rob spent four years traveling the world as chief photographer for the Canadian Wildlife Federation. Read More >

Jay Parkinson

Jay Parkinson, MD, MPH is one of "Fast Company 's" 10 most creative people in health, and is billed "Doctor of the Future." He is co-founder and CEO of Sherpaa. The inception of his internet-driven practice in 2007 attracted 7 million visitors to his website. This concept went on to become Hello Health, an electronic medical record that enables doctors and patients to connect in and out of the office via email, IM, and video chat. He has given talks on the new frontiers that technology creates for medical care at over 50 conferences including TED & Google's Zeitgeist. Read More >

Franky Carrillo

Franky Carrillo had dreams of growing up a fairly normal adolescence. But at 16, he was arrested as the prime suspect for a crime he did not commit. Franky was tried as an adult and found guilty of murder, despite his continual assertion that he was innocent. He was sentenced to live out the remainder of his life in prison. Finally, on March 16, 2011 , he was exonerated when all six eye witnesses recanted their statements, admitting they had been influenced by the police. Now, Franky has re-emerged as a champion of equality and an educator on justice. Read More >

Keith Ferrazzi

Keith Ferrazzi is one of the rare individuals to discover the essential formula for reaching the top—a powerful combination of marketing acumen and a remarkable ability to connect with others. Both "Forbes" and "Inc." have designated him one of the world's most "connected" individuals. As Founder and CEO of Ferrazzi Greenlight, he provides market leaders with strategic consulting and training services to increase company sales and enhance personal careers. Ferrazzi Greenlight strategically leverages the insight of its executive team, whose careers span the highest echelons of corporate America. Read More >

Scott Harrison

Scott Harrison is the Founder and CEO of charity: water, a non-profit organization bringing clean and safe drinking water to people in developing nations. In seven years, with the help of more than 400,000 donors worldwide, charity: water has raised more than $150 million and funded 13,000 water projects in 24 countries. When completed, those projects will provide clean, safe drinking water to more than 3.5 million people. Scott is currently a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader. Scott was recently recognized in Fortune Magazine's 40 under 40 list and Forbes' Impact 30 list. Read More >

Zachary Karabell

Named a “Global Leader for Tomorrow” by the World Economic Forum, Zachary Karabell has a profound and refreshing outlook on a world economy in crisis. Karabell analyzes economic and political trends, challenging common assumptions ranging from global economics to the future of innovation to environmental sustainability. The author of 11 books, he is a regular contributor on CNBC and "Fast Money," and is also a commentator on "NBC Nightly News," CNN and more. Thousands have benefited immensely from his talks and views on current events. Read More >

Muhammad Yunus

Called the "Banker to the Poor," Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus is respected around the world for his contributions toward ending world poverty. Driven by the idea that credit is a basic human right, Muhammad founded the Grameen Bank in 1976 and developed his revolutionary microcredit system, which has achieved phenomenal success in helping the 5.6 million poor people in Bangladesh gain a better quality of life. His innovative banking program provides the poor with small loans they use to launch businesses. Read More >

Ron Cordes

Ron Cordes has more than 30 years of experience in the investment industry. He is a co-founder of the Cordes Foundation and is currently executive co-chairman of Genworth Financial Wealth Management with more than $24 billion of assets under management with 4,000 independent investment advisors. As co-founder of the Cordes Foundation, Ron leads a global mission of driving market-based capital to address the world's most important problems. In addition, he serves on the Advisory Committee for the Clinton Global Initiative, and as a board member of FairTrade USA. Read More >

Bobby Bailey

As the co-founder of Invisible Children, the internationally recognized NPO behind the legendary KONY2012 Movement, documentary filmmaker and award-winning activist Bobby Bailey has impacted the lives of millions during his ongoing quest for worldwide liberty, peace and equality. He has since worked with the UN Foundation and countless human rights groups to fight for justice and awareness, for which he was awarded the 2009 Human Security Award.
He recently helped organize a Central Park concert that raised over $1 Billion to end poverty. Read More >

Steven Kotler

Steven Kotler is a "New York Times" best-selling author, an award-winning journalist and the Co-founder/Director of Research for the Flow Genome Project. He is one of the world's leading experts on ultimate human performance. His work has been translated into over 40 languages and has appeared in 80 publications, including "The New York Times," "Atlantic Monthly," "Forbes," "Wired" and "TIME." His latest work, "The Rise of Superman," was one of the most talked about books in 2014. His other books have explored the intersection of human capabilities, technology and consciousness. Read More >

Daymond John

Daymond John used to work at Red Lobster. Today, he is an international icon as the Founder & CEO of FUBU—a company that has generated billions in sales—an author, consultant, and co-host of ABC's popular business competition show "Shark Tank." He has keynoted for Samsung, Harvard Business School, and was chosen by Babson College, which has been named the #1 school in the world for entrepreneurship for the past 18 years, as the 2011-2012 Entrepreneur in Residence. He was called "one of the greatest entrepreneurs of our time," by Barack Obama. Read More >

Blake Mycoskie

Blake Mycoskie is the founder and Chief Shoe Giver of TOMS, and the person behind the idea of One for One, which has turned into a global movement. Since it began in 2006, TOMS has given ten million pairs of new shoes to children in need. The company also recently expanded its unique business model to include TOMS Eyewear, helping to save and restore sight to more than 150,000 people in need around the world. TOMS has donated 10 million shoes in more than 50 countries across the world and the company projects it will donate 10 million more in the next two years. Read More >

Michael Beschloss

Michael Beschloss is an award-winning historian of the American Presidency and the author of eight books, including his most recent work, bestseller "Presidential Courage: Brave Leaders and How They Changed America 1789-1989." Called "the nation's leading Presidential historian," by "Newsweek," Beschloss has made history himself, serving as the first Presidential Historian for NBC News—the first time any major network has created such a position. His insight into political history is unparalleled, leaving audiences educated and informed after each journey. Read More >

Rick Marini

Rick Marini is the founder of BranchOut, which is the leading career networking service on Facebook. BranchOut offers access to 3 million jobs and tens of thousands of internships. The service has been featured in hundreds of major media outlets and raised tens of millions in funding. Previously, Rick was the Co-Founder, CFO & Chief Strategist for Tickle.com, which was acquired by Monster Worldwide for more than $100 million. A tech entrepreneur of massive proportion, Rick always seeks to explore the "what's next" in the world of innovation and connectivity. Read More >

Rick Reilly

Rick Reilly is an 11-time National Sportswriter of the Year and front-page columnist for ESPN.com. He is also the host of Homecoming with Rick Reilly, ESPN's unique one-on-one interview show shot in the hometown of an A-list athlete in front of their friends, family and teammates. A "New York Times" best-selling author, his column compilations and original works have garnered rave reviews and showcase his recognizable journalistic style. His foundation, Nothing But Nets, has raised more than $30 million for the anti-malaria effort. Read More >

Ido Leffler

Ido Leffler is the co-founder of Yes To, Inc. In only four years, Leffler and his team have built Yes To into one of the leading natural beauty brands in the world, achieving distribution in approximately 25,000 stores in more than 24 countries, including Target, Wal-Mart, Walgreens, and many more). Today, Yes To is the second-largest natural beauty brand in America and growing beyond his wildest dreams. Ido's latest venture, Yoobi, features Target as its lead investor and brings the "one-for-one" business model to school supplies. For every Yoobi item purchased, Yoobi distributes an item to a classroom in need, in the USA. Read More >

Ned Hallowell

Edward (Ned) Hallowell is a child and adult psychiatrist as well as the founder of the Hallowell Centers with offices in Sudbury, MA, New York City, San Francisco, and Seattle. These centers specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of learning differences, especially ADHD and dyslexia, using a strength-based approach. Dr. Hallowell served on the faculty of the Harvard Medical School for 20 years until he retired from academia to devote his full professional time to seeing patients, writing books, and giving lectures and seminars. Read More >

Kellie Williams

A home video created by her dad won Kellie Williams the role as Laura Winslow on the sitcom Family Matters (1989-1998). Through this role, Kellie won the hearts of millions across America. Over the years, Kellie has been nominated for many awards for her performances. After Family Matters, Kellie continued her career in acting and producing. In 2001, she starred in the ABC sitcom What About Joan with Joan Cusack. Kellie also served as a celebrity guest host for Niecy Nash on the hit show Clean House (2009). Kellie was also the co-executive producer of Blessed and Cursed (2010). Read More >

Lauren Berger

Lauren Berger is arguably the leading expert on Internships in the world. She is the is founder and CEO of Intern Queen, Inc., an online internship destination that helps students find and apply for internships while also educating them on how to make the most of their experiences. Lauren is also a top-selling author. "BusinessWeek" magazine listed her at number 5 on their annual list of Young Entrepreneurs 25 Under 25. AOL says, "If you are going to college and wondering what you are going to do this summer—you need to look her up." Read More >

Adisa Banjoko

Adisa Banjoko is an activist and educator on the power of strategy as a positive force. As founder of the Hip-Hop Chess Federation, Adisa's work explores how the fusion of music, chess and martial arts can teach unity, strategy, and non-violence. The Hip Hop Chess Federation reaches approximately 50,000 youths across the country annually. It has been featured on "Good Morning America," and in "Rolling Stone," "Forbes," "Black Enterprise" and many other publications. "I'm teaching young people how to be proactive," Adisa said in a 2012 interview with "Forbes." Read More >

Wilmer Valderrama

Best known for his role as Fez on Fox's "That 70's Show," Wilmer Valderrama moved to Los Angeles from Venezuela at age 13 with his family and did not speak much English. He has since become a well-known actor and producer, entrepreneur, business and marketing advisor, and philanthropist. Wilmer is working on numerous projects, including a film with Spike Lee and a role on ABC's "Suburgatory." He is a massive supporter of anti-bullying efforts and regularly speaks about his heritage and how to better understand Latino culture and history. Read More >

Janne Kouri

Janne Kouri was left paralyzed after a tragic accident in Manhattan Beach in 2006. He turned his paralysis into a movement to revolutionize the quality of healthcare for the physically challenged. Janne is now the president and founder of NextStep, a nationally recognized nonprofit organization that offers offer activity-based training for those who had not received quality rehabilitation. NextStep believes that all persons living with paralysis and other physical disabilities deserve the hope and opportunity to live long and healthy lives. Read More >

Adam Braun

Adam Braun is a "New York Times" best-selling author and the Founder of Pencils of Promise, an award-winning organization that has broken ground on more than 300 schools around the world. In recent years he has been named to the "Forbes" 30 Under 30 List, "Wired" magazine's "50 People Who Are Changing the World," and was selected as one of the World Economic Forum's first ten Global Shapers. He has also been a featured speaker at the White House, Google Zeitgeist and Clinton Global Initiative. His book "The Promise of a Pencil" debuted at #2 on "The New York Times." Read More >

Brian Bordainick

At only 29 years old, Brian Bordainick is a bona fide serial entrepreneur. He is the Founder & CEO at Dinner Lab, a membership-based social dining experiment that unites undiscovered chefs with adventurous diners in unique spaces — from helipads to vacant movie theaters. Dinner Lab meals highlight up-and-coming chefs from around the country, and changing the location of every meal serves to experiment with the concept of using food to build communities. Dinner Lab is recreating the restaurant model by challenging the concept that a brick and mortar restaurant has to be a permanent fixture. Read More >

Jim Craig

Jim Craig was the goalie and backbone of the gold medal winning 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team. His performance in the Olympic tournament included stopping 39 of 42 shots on goal in a 4-3 win over the heavily favored Soviet Union, an upset widely considered the greatest in sports history. Following hockey, he built an award-winning sales and marketing career; among his accomplishments was taking an operating unit that did $300,000 in annual sales and stewarding it to $50 million in annual sales. Jim is founder and president of Gold Medal Strategies, a Boston-area based motivational and sales training company. Read More >

Matthew Bishop

Matthew Bishop is the US Business Editor and New York Bureau Chief of "The Economist." Matthew was previously the magazine’s London-based business editor. Matthew is the co-author of "The Road From Ruin: How to Revive Capitalism and Put America Back on Top," with Michael Green, which rejects old orthodoxies and sets an agenda that calls for a new, improved capitalism. "Philanthrocapitalism," his previous book (also with Green) on the global revolution under way in philanthropy, has been described as “terrific” by "The New York Times" columnist Nicholas Kristof. Read More >

Cheryl Swirnow

Cheryl Swirnow is the co-founder of Sherpaa. Marie Claire magazine has referred to Cheryl as "the healthcare game changer." Cheryl began her career at the Four Seasons Hotel in New York running their special services division. From there, she went on to lead the North American Operations for Quintessentially, a global concierge service. It was here that she honed her human resources and operations skills. Before starting Sherpaa, Cheryl was running the human resources department of The Barbarian Group. Cheryl has taken her nearly 12 years of HR & hospitality experience to Sherpaa. Read More >

Jerry Springer

Throughout an illustrious and sometimes controversial career, Jerry Springer has become a cultural and civic icon. In addition to hosting “The Jerry Springer Show,” now in its 22nd season, he has been the Mayor of Cincinnati, a political pundit, a lawyer, an Emmy award-winning newscaster, a Primetime Television game show host, and an international emcee. In each crafted presentation, Springer reveals a side of himself not often seen by he public, based on years of being in the public spotlight in a wide-variety of venues. Today, Springer has become a favorite guest speaker at college campuses throughout the U.S. Read More >

Daniel Freedman

Daniel Freedman is the Director of Strategy and Policy Analysis of The Soufan Group, an international strategic consultancy that advises and trains governments, Fortune 500 companies, and institutions. He is a former columnist for "Forbes," and began his career as an editorial writer at "The Wall Street Journal Europe." His writings on topics ranging from terrorism and international affairs to politics and theology have appeared in publications that include the "Wall Street Journal" and the "Chicago Tribune." He is co-author of the best-seller "The Black Banners." Read More >

Edwin Moses

Edwin Moses, an Olympic Champion, sports administrator, and diplomat is one of the most respected athletes of our time. He has resolutely served and promoted the Olympic movement, and fostered the development of "drug-free" sports and the rights of amateur athletes. His experience as a distinguished Olympic champion has earned him the esteem of the international sports community. Moses, also a physicist, is known for utilizing the applied sciences to perfect the technical aspects of his athletic performance in his event, the 400 meter hurdles. Read More >

Michael Leavitt

A brilliant bipartisan statesman respected for his adroit leadership in both the private and public sectors, Michael Leavitt deftly illuminates the challenges and solutions of today’s most pressing issues. Having served as Secretary of Health and Human Services, head of the Environmental Protection Agency, a three-term governor of Utah and chief executive officer of the nation’s second-largest, privately-held insurance firm, Leavitt’s career earned him the reputation as a skilled coalition-builder, able to form unprecedented partnerships with extraordinary results. Read More >

Jonathan Capehart

At the Washington Post, Capehart is the anchor of the PostPartisan blog where he writes about
national politics and social issues. Capehart has written and continues to write about the impact
of the Tea Party on the Republican Party and national politics. He predicted that the 2011 fight
over the budget was a harbinger of things to come over the debt ceiling later that year and in
2012. He’s a leading voice on gay rights, writing on everything from the ending of “don’t ask,
don’t tell”, to race, to the pursuit of marriage equality. Read More >

Ty Pennington

Ty Pennington is a home design guru and television show host best known for helping transform the lives of deserving families through the hit ABC show "Extreme Make Over: Home Edition." The show was originally intended to only be a thirteen-part miniseries, but it was such a hit that it became a full series that ran for 9 years. Ty became well-known for spending between 240-260 days per year working on behalf of others. Most recognized for his philanthropic-leanings, Pennington continues to spread positive messages to those who need them most. Read More >

Bruce George

Bruce is a visionary, entrepreneur, speaker, author, panelist, executive producer, writer, poet, consultant and social activist. Born and raised in New York City, he has written poetry/prose & articles for over 37 years. Bruce's work has been published in major magazines, anthologies and literary publications. He has written testimonials from the likes of Essence Magazine, Emerge Magazine, Class Magazine, Harlem River Press and more. Bruce is the Co-founder of the critically acclaimed, award-winning Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry. Read More >

Lee Zlotoff

Lee David Zlotoff is an award-winning writer, producer, and director of film and television. Most notably among them, Lee was the writer and creator of the iconic hit TV series, "MacGyver," which has since become a global meme for resourcefulness and ingenuity. Lee has gone public with The MacGyver Method: Breakthroughs on Demand, a unique creative process that allows anyone to tap into their subconscious to develop creative solutions to virtually any problem. Lee has advised several organizations and companies, including Harvard University and Zappos. Read More >

Lance Kalish

Lance Kalish is the co-founder and "Chief Carrot Counter" of Yes To, Inc. At 29 years old, Lance started the company with his business partner Ido Leffler and within four years built Yes To into one of the fastest growing skincare companies in the world, with a presence in approximately 25,000 stores in more than 24 countries including Walmart, Target, Walgreens, Whole Foods, and numerous other global retail chains. Yes To, Inc. became an instant phenomenon and has been widely recognized for its unique products, global vision, entrepreneurial spirit, and social outreach.
Read More >

Bert Jacobs

Bert Jacobs is co-founder and Chief Executive Optimist of The Life is good Company. The Boston, MA-based lifestyle brand spreads the power of optimism and helps kids in need by donating 10 percent of its net profits to The Life is good Kids Foundation. In 1994, with a combined sum of just $78 in the bank, Bert and his brother John officially launched Life is good. Today, over 4,500 retailers nationwide carry Life is good products, as well as stores in over 30 countries around the world. Surprisingly, Life is good does not spend anything on advertising and rely purely on consumer word-of-mouth. Read More >

Daniel Dae Kim

Throughout his distinguished career, Daniel Dae Kim has been known for creating multifaceted and stereotype-breaking roles. Perhaps best known for his work as Jin Soo Kwon on the hit TV series, LOST, Daniel shared a 2006 Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Ensemble, and was individually honored with an AZN Asian Excellence Award, a Multicultural Prism Award and a Vanguard Award from the Korean American Coalition, all for Outstanding Performance by an Actor. In 2009, he was recognized with the prestigious KoreAm Journal Achievement Award in the field of Arts and Entertainment. Read More >

Linda Cohn

Linda Cohn has long been considered a pioneer for woman sportscasters and a true American icon. She has graced television sets for over 21 years as one of the first full-time female sports anchors and is recognized as one of America's most successful female sports anchors. Linda has been one of only a few that have been a constant mainstay on ESPN's "SportsCenter," since July of 1992. Her straightforward style and natural humor have created an easy rapport with viewers for years. Linda has also authored a popular book, "Cohn-Head." Read More >

Ali Soufan

On September 12, 2001, FBI special agent Ali Soufan was handed a secret file. Had he received it months earlier—when it was requested—the 9/11 attacks could have been prevented. Ali helped gain many of the most important confessions in the war on terror without laying a hand on a terrorist. These interrogations have never been reported in their entirety, or in context, and never by anyone with firsthand knowledge. His 2011 book, "Black Banners," was an instant bestseller and won several awards, despite some censure from the CIA. Read More >

Andrew Hessel

Andrew Hessel is a genomic scientist, synthetic biologist, and consultant in DNA technologies. He is a strong supporter of open source biology for accelerating innovation and as a counterbalance to proprietary biotechnology. Working with leading academic and commercial groups, he has traveled the globe for more than 15 years in his exploration of digital biology. His research is the successor to recombinant DNA technology, which is now transforming DNA into an easy-to-use, yet innovative, programming language for biological systems. Read More >

Justin Dillon

Justin Dillon is an artist, entrepreneur, public speaker, and abolitionist. He is the founder and CEO of Made In A Free World, a non-profit organization dedicated to ending forced labor, human trafficking, and modern-day slavery through increased public awareness, action, and advocacy. President Obama and Secretary Kerry have both endorsed Justin’s work and have asked MIAFW to assist with purifying the Federal Government's supply chains, which is the largest in the world. MIAFW have recently begun to partner with businesses to disrupt illicit slave markets through the use of big data. Read More >

Jordan Kassalow

Dr. Jordan Kassalow is the co-chairman and founder of VisionSpring. He is also the founder of Scojo, New York and the Global Health Policy Program at the Council on Foreign Relations. Prior to his position at the Council, he served as director of the River Blindness Division at Helen Keller International. Dr. Kassalow is a Henry Crown Fellow at the Aspen Institute. Dr. Kassalow was recently named to Forbes Impact 30, a list of the world's leading Social Entrepreneurs. VisionSpring is a social enterprise that sells affordable eye glasses and vision care to populations the traditional market has neglected. Read More >

Katie Spotz

After 70 days alone at sea, Katie Spotz became the youngest person in the world to row an ocean solo. No stranger to overcoming challenges, Katie’s list of accomplishments is long including a half-ironman triathlon, an ultramarathon in Australia, cycling across the United States, a 325-mile river swim, running across deserts—and she’s already planning her next adventure. Her most remarkable feat, the 70-day row across the Atlantic Ocean, set a world record in 2010 for the youngest-ever solo ocean rower, and is just one of many records to her name. Read More >

Scott Beale

Scott Beale is a former U.S. Diplomat, the founder of Atlas Service Corps, and a social entrepreneur who has started three citizen sector organizations and helped thousands become agents for social change through his work on four continents. Always a step or two ahead, Beale has pioneered an innovative, sustainable and scalable way for revolutionizing international volunteerism that he is spreading around the world through fellowships and high-impact opportunities. Based on acceptance-rate statistics, Atlas Corps is a more difficult program to get into than Harvard. Read More >

Aubrey de Grey

Dr. Aubrey de Grey is a biomedical gerontologist the Chief Science Officer of the SENS Foundation, a California-based NPO dedicated to combating the aging process. A true maverick, Dr. de Grey challenges the most basic assumption underlying the human condition—that aging is inevitable. He is a Fellow of both the Gerontological Society of America & the American Aging Association, & sits on the advisory boards of numerous journals & organizations. Innovation, at its very core, is the essence of each presentation de Grey delivers to audiences ranging from scientists to CEOs. Read More >

Cameron Herold

Cameron Herold is one of North America's most innovative business leaders and was a leading force behind one of the most successful new business ventures of the last decade, 1-800-GOT-JUNK?. He helped the cutting-edge company grow from $2 million to $105 million in revenue in six years with no debt or outside shareholders, an astounding achievement by any standard. During his tenure, numerous MBA programs studied the company, including Harvard University for its remarkably disruptive success in an incredibly short amount of time. Read More >

Marianne Schnall

Marianne Schnall is a widely published writer and interviewer whose writings and interviews have appeared in a variety of media outlets including "O" magazine, TIME.com, "In Style," CNN.com, EW.com, the Women's Media Center, and many others. Marianne is a featured blogger at The Huffington Post and a contributor to the nationally syndicated NPR radio show, "51 Percent: The Women's Perspective." Schnall is the founder and Executive Director of Feminist.com, a leading women’s web site and nonprofit organization. Read More >

Peter Diamandis

Dr. Peter Diamandis is the Founder of the X PRIZE Foundation, a non-profit focused on designing and launching large incentive prizes to drive radical breakthroughs for the benefit of humanity. He is the leading international figure in the commercial space arena, the co-founder of Singularity University, and one of the most in-demand Keynote speakers in the world. Diamandis and the X PRIZE have been hired by groups that include Google, Cisco, Shell, Progressive Insurance, NASA and the US Department of Energy to discuss and create incentivized innovation. Read More >

Dorian Howard

Dorian Howard is the co-founder and one half of the sister duo behind Wade & Belle — an e-commerce platform that is revolutionizing the women's tights category. Wade & Belle was founded upon the simple premise of challenging the status quo in women's fashion. Developing a patented waist-band, the Howard sisters are committed to bringing an unparalleled product to the underserved hosiery category. Launched in 2014, Wade & Belle has received accolades from "Refinery 29," "Style Bistro," "InTouch" and has celebrity fans including Whitney Cummings and Ginnifer Goodwin. Read More >

Annie Griffiths

As a contributing photographer to "National Geographic," Annie Griffiths has photographed in nearly 150 countries during her illustrious career. She has worked on dozens of magazine and book projects for the National Geographic Society, including stories on Lawrence of Arabia, Baja California, Galilee, Petra, Sydney, New Zealand, and Jerusalem. Her award-winning photos have also appeared in "LIFE," "Smithsonian," "Fortune," Stern," and many other publications. In addition to her magazine work, Annie is social activist, photographing for aid organizations around the world. Read More >

Walter Echo-Hawk

Walter Echo-Hawk is a Native American attorney, tribal judge, author, activist, and law professor. He represents Indian tribes on important legal issues, such as treaty rights, water rights, religious freedom, prisoner rights, and repatriation rights. His career spans the pivotal years when Indian tribes reclaimed their land, sovereignty, and pride in a stride toward freedom. As a Native American rights attorney since 1973, Walter worked at the epicenter of a great social movement alongside many visionary tribal leaders. For his work, Walter received Oklahoma's "Governor's Commendation". Read More >

Sallie Krawcheck

Sallie L. Krawcheck is the former president of Global Wealth & Investment Management for Bank of America, the largest wealth management business in the world, with $17 billion in revenue and $2.2 trillion in client balances. This business provides comprehensive wealth management services to clients across the range of wealth globally. It also provides retirement and benefit plan services, philanthropic management and asset management services to individuals and institutions. Its operating businesses include Merrill Lynch and US Trust. Read More >

Gary Schwartz

Over the past 15 years, Gary has played a leadership role in the mobile industry. He is the author of "The Impulse Economy" and "Fast Shopper, Slow Store" published by Simon & Schuster, Atria Imprint. Gary is presently writing a book on the Internet of Everything titled "The 2nd Revolution." In 2013, Gary was recognized by Mobile Marketer publication as the "Mobile Commerce Evangelist of the Year” and in 2014 Gary was selected as the Retail Innovator of the Year by Retail Touchpoints. In 2006, Gary founded the mobile committee for the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB). Read More >

Chad Jones

Chad Jones has received much attention for his athleticism, but even more for his road to recovery from a tragic car accident that nearly cost him his life. He entered the 2010 NFL Draft and was selected by the New York Giants. His budding professional career then came to a halt when a tragic car accident nearly destroyed his left leg. Chad’s story is chronicled in a documentary, “Always A Fire,” which unveils his road to recovery. Chad—who has achieved what doctors called “impossible”— was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds as a left-handed pitcher in the 2013 MLB draft.
Read More >

Ben Stein

An authentic Renaissance man, Ben Stein has had what may be the most diverse career of anyone now on the national scene. He has been an award-winning actor, economist, writer, journalist, and teacher, and is a household name in America's boardrooms as well as America's dorms and frat houses. After serving as lawyer and speech writer to Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford, Stein became a columnist for "The Wall Street Journal" and, in 1976, moved to Hollywood to become a novelist, TV sitcom writer, and movie scriptwriter. He has written and published 17 books, many of them reaching "New York Times" best-seller lists. Read More >

Shaherose Charania

Shaherose is the CEO and Co-Founder of Women 2.0 - a media brand for the next generation of technology leaders offering content, community events and conferences globally. She began her career working at various startups in Silicon Valley as the lead for Product Management, Design and Marketing at Ribbit (British Telecom), Talenthouse and JAJAH. She is an active advisor to early stage technology startups through her idea lab, Founder Labs, which she founded in 2011. Shaherose also sits on the board of World Good Solutions. Her life’s purpose is driving positive change through technology. Read More >

Rosario Dawson

Rosario Dawson is an award-winning actress, producer, and activist. She has garnered praise not only for her numerous leading roles in films such as "Sin City," "Rent," and "Seven Pounds," but also for her work with a range of influential organizations. In 2012, Dawson was named to Fast Company's list of "The 100 Most Creative People in Business 2012," an annual celebration of business innovators who dare to think differently. In 2004, Dawson co-founded a non-partisan political organization called Voto Latino. Their outreach has targeted youth and helped register over 220,000 voters. Read More >

Jonathan Batiste

Whether he's performing for Presidents or sharing the stage with Elvis Costello, Jonathan Batiste is a musical icon – a truly unique figure in this generation. Armed with his Masters from Julliard, Jonathan's extraordinary piano expertise and dapper sense of style has ignited the NYC music scene. He is from a celebrated lineage of musicians from the Batiste family of Louisiana. He was introduced to music by his family's band, the Batiste Brothers Band, in which he played percussion/drums in at age 8. He switched to piano around the age of 12. Read More >

Joe De Sena

Spartan Race founder and "New York Times" best-selling author Joseph De Sena is a lifelong entrepreneur. From starting a t-shirt business in high school, to building a multimillion-dollar pool business in college, to creating a Wall Street trading firm, to launching Spartan - one of the most well-known athletic events in the world - Joe's message of leadership, teamwork, innovation and personal transformation has made him a popular speaker for both businesses and universities alike. Read More >

Joy Behar

Joy Behar is the former co-host of ABC's "The View," and among today's leading comic talents. Whether performing standup comedy or interviewing politicians and artists, she is a 100% original and a leading woman both on stage and screen. With a voice that sounds, as she says, "Like I have Jimmy Hoffa in the back of my throat," Joy strips the varnish off pretensions. "The View" has been the highest rated show on ABC for its time slot since the 1993-94 season. Author, Emmy Winner, and Comedienne, Behar is involved with numerous philanthropic organizations. Read More >

Patricia Arquette

Audiences recognize Oscar, Golden Globe and Emmy winner Patricia Arquette for her gripping roles in shows like "Medium" and films like "Boyhood," "Stigmata" and the classic "True Romance," but what most people don't know about is her real-life role as a humanitarian. As co-founder of GiveLove, a nonprofit dedicated to community-led sanitation projects, Patricia works on improving public health through teaching and implementing eco-sanitation efforts and building sustainable systems in Haiti, an country devastated by an earthquake in 2012. Read More >

Michael Ellsberg

Michael Ellsberg is the best-selling author of "The Education of Millionaires: It's Not What You Think, And It's Not Too Late," which became a worldwide smash upon its release. Never hesitant to challenge the status-quo, Ellsberg connects with audiences on a variety of topics ranging from "hacking" education to technology to networking. As such, he is considered to be one of the leading experts in the education space. An official blogger for "Forbes," Michael's next book, "The Best Investment," published by Penguin, is set for a spring 2014 release. Read More >

Amelia Rose Earhart

Amelia Rose Earhart, namesake to the famed Amelia Mary Earhart who attempted to fly around the world in 1937, is the youngest woman to fly around the world in a single engine aircraft. In 2014, Amelia flew a Pilatus PC12-NG 28,000 miles, crossing the equator six times, through fourteen countries to complete a circumnavigation of the globe. Amelia is the President of the Fly With Amelia Foundation, a non-profit organization that grants flight-training scholarships to young women, aged sixteen to eighteen. Read More >

Chase Jarvis

Chase Jarvis is well known as a visionary photographer, director, fine artist and entrepreneur with a consistent ambition to break down the barriers between new and traditional media, fine and commercial art. As a photographic master, Chase has won numerous awards from Prix de la Photographie de Paris, The Advertising Photographers of America, and The International Photography Awards. In a recent global poll, Chase was cited as one of the top 30 most influential photographers of the past decade. Chase is also the CEO of creativeLIVE, one of the world's fastest growing online education companies. Read More >

Amanda Slavin

Amanda Slavin is CEO and founder of CatalystCreativ, a community design firm that builds community for purpose driven ventures, partnered and funded by the Downtown Project. She has used this foundation of understanding engagement in her approach to grassroots marketing and business development. She started with Paige Management in 2009 and built a community of clientele, bringing the company from its 3 million dollar status 3 million to 30+ million dollar status in 2012. Amanda built the events, marketing, social media, online marketing departments from the ground up. Read More >

Leilani Münter

Heralded as "one of the top ten female race car drivers in the world" by "Sports Illustrated," Leilani Münter is simply one of a kind. By adopting an acre of rainforest to offset the carbon emissions for each race she runs, Münter is greening America's largest spectator sport one race at a time. Discovery's Planet Green named her the #1 Eco Athlete, beating out Lance Armstrong. She was profiled on the television series "Fast Forward," and has also been featured on ESPN, Fashion TV, National Geographic, NBC Sports, and MSNBC. Read More >

Ed Begley, Jr

As an actor best known for his incredible comedic characters, Ed has taken his creative role beyond the television and film industry to create a sustainable lifestyle by "going green." Ed has taken the task of making an eco-friendly lifestyle doable for all, not only through his television show but also as a speaker and activist on the grandest of stages. An accomplished actor, Ed continues to balance his passion for acting with his passion for the Mother Nature. His television show, "Life with Ed," offers educational insight toward the greening of America and the future of Energy. Read More >

Peter Thum

Peter Thum is an entrepreneur, perhaps most recognizable for founding Ethos Water, a socially conscious brand that was sold to Starbucks. Starting in 2005, he led the brand for three more years as Vice President of Starbucks and a Director of the Starbucks Foundation. Currently, he is co-founder of Fonderie 47, which transforms AK47s from conflict zones in Africa into rare jewelry, watches, and accessories. In turn, the sales of these pieces funds the destruction of more assault rifles, with each customer becoming an agent of weapon destruction. Read More >

Jamison Monroe

Jamison Monroe is the founder of Newport Academy and a leading expert in Drug & Alcohol counseling for youths. Beyond overseeing Newport Academy, he is immersed in multiple facets of the battle against addiction & is internationally recognized as a conduit between the past, present & future of recovery. He is exceedingly passionate about education & awareness, serving on the board of directors for several non-profits & some of the world's most progressive projects. Jamison is a frequent contributor to CNN and other media outlets. Read More >

Nick Adams

With roles such as Adam/Felicia in the Bette Midler-produced Broadway production of "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert," Nick Adams' career has taken off. But, before becoming the star that he is today, Nick struggled with coming to terms with his sexuality while growing up in a small town. Now, not only is his Broadway career thriving, but Nick also uses his fame as an opportunity, lending his name and voice to organizations such as Live Out Loud, one of New York's up-and-coming LGBT organizations. Nick also has been featured in hit movies and TV shows. Read More >

Donna Brazile

Veteran Democratic political strategist Donna Brazile is an author, a television political commentator, the Vice Chair of Voter Registration and Participation at the Democratic National Committee, and former chair of the DNC's Voting Rights Institute. She is also the first African-American Woman to manage a Presidential campaign (Al Gore). With four decades and innumerable state and local campaigns under her belt, Brazil worked on every presidential campaign from 1976 through 2000, making her one of the leading experts on the presidency in the world. Read More >

Binta Brown

When self-described "problem solver" Binta Brown talks, elected officials listen. It doesn't hurt that she's also one of the country's top African-American fundraisers and attorneys, tapping her extensive network to fund political, humanitarian, and cultural initiatives, all while representing corporate clients in connection with over $66.5 billion in transactional litigation. She sits on the Council on Foreign Relations, was named to the "Fortune" Top 40 under 40 list, and was a National Security advisor to Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton's presidential campaign. Read More >

Lisa Katayama

Lisa Katayama is a journalist, entrepreneur, and Japanese culture expert, writing and speaking about cutting-edge science and technologies, unusual subcultures, inspirational, innovative individuals and businesses, and human rights for publications like "Wired," "Fast Company," "Popular Science," and "The New York Times Magazine." Her current project, the critically and culturally acclaimed "We are all Radioactive," follows those seeking to rebuild Japan after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, capturing insight from which we all can learn. Read More >

Porter Gale

Porter Gale is a social media expert, an entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in marketing and advertising, and an in-demand public speaker. From 2007 to 2011, Porter led Virgin America's advertising efforts as Vice President of Marketing, helping make the brand a household name. Her book, the highly-anticipated "Your Network is Your Net Worth," was released by Simon and Schuster in 2013, and she has been featured in hundreds of press outlets for her unique expertise. Her talks to organizations of all sizes have been met with rave reviews. Read More >

Ne-Yo (Shaffer Smith)

Ne-Yo is a three-time Grammy Award winner, singer, songwriter, producer and actor, and his albums have sold more than 11 million copies. But those aren’t the only ventures that Shaffer Smith is dedicated to. This multi-dimensional philanthropist, humanitarian, and father faced difficult circumstances as a child, overcoming poverty in rural Nevada to become one of the most acclaimed, and impactful, celebrities in the world. At the end of he day, he's a story-teller with an entirely unique view of the world. He also happens to be Senior Vice President of A&R at Motown. Read More >

Winona LaDuke

Named by "TIME" as one of America's Fifty Most Promising Leaders Under Forty, Harvard-educated Winona LaDuke has continuously pursued an active role in advocating for frontline Native environmental groups. At age of 18, she spoke in front of the United Nations regarding Native American rights and has become one of the most prominent voices for Native economic and environmental concerns throughout World since that day. She has been nominated for Vice President twice, alongside Ralph Nader, and remains one of our nations leading voices. Read More >

Michael Hebb

Described by "The New York Times" as an "underground restaurateur, impresario and provocateur," Michael Hebb is an innovative and influential cultural figure and activist. He believes that the dinner table is one of the most effective, yet overlooked, vehicles for changing the world, and he aims to utilize that setting for thoughtful discussion on universal topics including community rituals, cultural history, and even end-of-life concerns. Since 1997, Michael has been staging invitation-only salons and dinners where guests from various backgrounds focus on specific themes or ideas. Read More >

Derrick Ashong

An experienced musician, broadcaster, and digital media influencer, Derrick N. Ashong (aka DNA) has carved out a unique niche as an expert in bridging the gap between old and new media. He has been invited to speak and perform at prestigious institutions including Harvard and Stanford, and has hosted and moderated events for leaders and heads of state including Nobel Laureates Archbishop Desmond Tutu and former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev, as well as Gilberto Gil, Ted Turner, Tommy Hilfiger, Bob Geldof, Queen Rania of Jordan and former President Bill Clinton. Read More >

Jesse Draper

Jesse Draper is a business leader, a Silicon Valley Insider, and an actress, entertainment entrepreneur, producer, writer and Twitter mainstay. Hoping to inspire and educate those who live a life at the office, along with those who are intimidated and bored by “business talk,” she created "The Valley Girl Show" to spark the entrepreneur inside of everyone. She has interviewed some of the biggest names in business, government, entertainment, and technology including Ted Turner, Richard Branson, Steve Wozniak, Sheryl Sandberg, & Mark Cuban. Read More >

Heather Hurlburt

As a speechwriter through two Clinton administrations, Heather Hurlburt has expansive knowledge on foreign policy and the inner-workings of the U.S. executive branch. Her policy work at the NSN focuses on the politics of U.S. foreign policy, counter-terrorism and resilience, and the nexus of civilian and military approaches to conflict resolution. She also has served in the State Department, Congress, and Washington-based non-governmental organizations. In 2013, she was named to "Foreign Policy’s" “10 Women Obama should appoint to national security jobs.” Read More >

Michael Parrish DuDell

Michael Parrish DuDell is an entrepreneur and the best-selling author of "Shark Tank Jump Start Your Business"—the official business book from ABC's hit show, "Shark Tank," on how to successfully launch and grow a business from concept to cash. Recently ranked as one of the top three best-selling business authors by Amazon.com, Michael's work has been featured in "Forbes," "Business Insider," "The Huffington Post," CNN, "San Francisco Chronicle," and many more. He is a One Young World Ambassador, and a member of the Young Entrepreneur Council. Read More >

Sloane Davidson

Sloane Davidson is a social entrepreneur, philanthropist and writer who focuses on the intersection of technology and social good. Named a top influencer at the 2010 Clinton Global Initiative and "Top Woman to Follow" on Twitter by Forbes, Sloane's professional experience includes more than 12 years in marketing, business development, and fundraising. Sloane is the Founder of The Causemopolitan, a blog that encourages giving back. Recently, she wrote and published The Giving Manifesto. An active philanthropist, Sloane has raised more than $1.5 million dollars for nonprofits. Read More >

James K. Glassman

Ambassador James K. Glassman is the Founding Executive Director of the George W. Bush Institute, dedicated to research and action in four areas: Education, Global Health, Human Freedom, and Economic Growth. Ambassador Glassman's career has spanned journalism, business, academia and diplomacy. Among his tasks at the State Department was to bring new Internet technology to foreign publics. He is a recognized expert on economics, technology, and public policy, and has written and spoken on these areas to audiences around the world. Read More >

Jonathan Fields

Jonathan Fields is an author, a serial wellness-industry entrepreneur, a recovering S.E.C mega-firm hedge-fund lawyer, a slightly-warped, unusually-stretchy, spiritually-inclined, obsessed-with-creation, marketing and innovation consultant, a venture partner, and a book-marketing educator. The Author of "Career Renegade," a popular business book, and the widely-received "Uncertainty: Turning Fear and Doubt Into Fuel for Brilliance," Fields is one of the most sought-after business, innovation, lifestyle and thinkers in the field. Fields now runs media and education venture, GoodLifeProject.com Read More >

Mike Del Ponte

Mike Del Ponte was an activist en route to priesthood when he discovered he could create social change through entrepreneurship, instead. Mike is the co-founder and CEO of Soma, the smart, sustainable water filter. Soma was named one of "25 Companies The Will Change the World" by "Inc. Magazine" and the #1 Design Story of the Year by "Fast Company." Before founding Soma, Mike founded Sparkseed, a global nonprofit investing in promising young social entrepreneurs, and he also led marketing at BranchOut, the largest professional network on Facebook. Read More >

Bill Rasmussen

Named "The Father of Cable Sports" by "USA Today," Bill Rasmussen changed the face of sports, and the face of television, as we know it. As the founder of ESPN he revolutionized 24-hour television, spawning a media company with revenues growing at 9 percent a year alongside a projected $8.2 billion in 2012. A lifelong entrepreneur, Rasmussen’s innovations in advertising, sports and broadcasting are innumerable. He is a highly regarded Leadership and Business Development speaker, working with audiences to help reach maximum potential. Read More >

Katty Kay

Kay is the lead anchor for BBC World News America. Prior to taking over as lead anchor, Kay served as the Washington Correspondent for BBC since 2002. Kay's career began in Zimbabwe in 1990 for BBC World Service radio. From there she also covered the end of apartheid in South Africa. Kay then went on to work as a BBC correspondent in London, and later Tokyo, reporting on stories including the Kobe earthquake and the Japanese economic recession. She settled in Washington in 1996 to join The Times' (the British newspaper) Washington bureau before returning to the BBC in 2002. Read More >

Polly LaBarre

Polly LaBarre is a best-selling author, speaker, and entrepreneur who has worked for nearly 20 years to embolden and equip leaders in every realm of endeavor to make their organizations more resilient, innovative, inspiring, and accountable. She is an inspiring and provocative voice on the big ideas and important questions that will shape the future of organizations, work, and success. In her speeches Polly showcases her brilliant storytelling ability and takes audiences on an inspiring journey – bringing to life the people, organizations and ideas on the fringe that are creating the future. Read More >

Alexis Jones

As Generation Y's leading voice on personal empowerment, Alexis Jones has traveled the world discussing the importance of self-worth. She has inspired many with her words of positive reinforcement and teaching others to discover their purpose. Also known as a contestant on CBS's "Survivor," Alexis has worked for Fox Sports and ESPN, and is the founder of I AM THAT GIRL, a community built to provide healthy media for inspiring girls with positivity, where she has quickly become an internationally recognized speaker, activist, and author. Read More >

Jon Bond

Jon Bond is one of the advertising and marketing industry's visionaries and thought leaders. Jon co-founded Kirshenbaum & Bond, who was credited with creating the modern integrated agency. Kirshenbaum & Bond is cited as the original "word of mouth" agency, which was its initial positioning at its inception in the late 1980s. Jon helped build the company into one of the largest independent agency networks in the world. Currently, Jon is Chief Tomorroist at Tomorro LLC, a holding company and 'value accelerator' for digital marketing and media properties. Read More >

Marc Summers

Whether it's daytime or nighttime television viewers, many recognize Marc Summers for his wide-ranging contributions to television in a career that has been successful both in front of and behind the camera. Marc is currently hosting the longest running show on Food Network, Unwrapped, a job he has held for eleven years. He has also hosted "Next Food Network Star," "Ultimate Recipe Showdown," and many specials for the channel. Summers is also Executive Producer of "Dinner: Impossible," "Food Feuds" and "Restaurant: Impossible." Read More >

Nikki Giovanni

One of Oprah Winfrey's "25 Living Legends," Giovanni is a world-renowned poet, best-selling author, commentator, activist, and educator. Over the past thirty years, her outspokenness, in her writing and in lectures, has brought the eyes of the world upon her. She remains as determined as ever to the fight for civil rights and equality. Always insisting on presenting the truth as she sees it, she has maintained a prominent place as a strong voice of the Black community. She is also a "New York Times" best-selling author and a Grammy nominee. Read More >

Steven Squyres

As a professor and the Principal Investigator for the Mars Exploration Rover Project, not only is Dr. Steven Squyres the leading research expert on planetary exploration...but he is also an expert on how to execute an $800 million project for NASA. His awards include the American Astronomical Society’s Harold C. Urey Prize, the Space Science Award of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, the American Astronautical Society’s Carl Sagan Award, the National Space Society’s Wernher von Braun Award, and the Benjamin Franklin Medal. Read More >

Alan Light

Alan Light has been one of America’s leading music journalists for more than twenty years. Currently, he is a frequent contributor to the New York Times and Rolling Stone and the Director of Programming for “Live from the Artists Den,” a concert series now broadcasting its seventh season on PBS. He has interviewed and profiled artists including U2, Neil Young, Eminem, Johnny Cash, Jay-Z, the Rolling Stones, and Prince. Alan is the author of The Holy or the Broken: Leonard Cohen, Jeff Buckley and the Unlikely Ascent of "Hallelujah". Read More >

Sonia Nazario

Pulitzer Prize winner Sonia Nazario has spent 20 years reporting and writing about social issues, most recently as a projects reporter for the "Los Angeles Times." Her stories have tackled some of this country's most intractable problems: hunger, drug addiction, and immigration. In 2003, her story of a Honduran boy's struggle to find his mother in the U.S., entitled "Enrique's Journey" won more than a dozen awards, among them the Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing. Her talks regularly challenge the status quo, taking current events into account from a refreshing viewpoint. Read More >

Andrew Weaver

Andrew Weaver is one of the world's foremost climate scientists and a leading expert on global warming. He is a Nobel Peace Prize recipient for his work with United States Vice President Al Gore on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in 2007. Andrew has authored more than 200 peer-reviewed papers, and he has had his published works cited by other scientists more than 7,000 times. Now, Andrew is an in-demand speaker on topics of that include environment, climate change, ecosystems, global warming and energy, among several others. Read More >

Ruha Benjamin

Ruha Benjamin is a sociology and African American studies scholar who examines the relationship between science, technology, medicine, and society. She is the author of "People's Science: Bodies and Rights on the Stem Cell Frontier," and is a professor of Sociology and African American studies at Boston University. Ruha's work is at the forefront of the debate over the relationships between innovation & equity, science & citizenship, and health & justice. Ruha spearheaded Provincializing Science, an international project that examines how genomic science relates to racial and caste hierarchies. Read More >

Search Speakers

We are home to many of the most talented and well-known scholars, business leaders, innovators, social entrepreneurs, philanthropists, technology and marketing pioneers, diversity experts, authors, athletes and entertainers in the world. Our role is to bring their expertise and insights to the masses.

We pride ourselves on being different. We are young, creative, and curious—and we value each and every individual with whom we work. These are the people who are shaping our collective future.

Our website offers many interactive features, including a built-in video channel calledGUILDtv and the ability to search, sort, and share speakers and ideas of potential interest.

Almost every image you see links to something or someone—including the blue logo on the upper left hand corner of each page. Don't hesitate to point and click—you never know where you might land!

We like to explore, and we encourage you to do the same. Take a look around, and don't hesitate to contact us. We are here to help.

Latest:

Blake Mycoskie's TOMS Opens a Cafe in Soho That Will Help People in Need Have Access to Clean Water

Two of Dr. Yaba Blay's Will Be Featured in the Tribeca Film Festival 2015

Adam Braun is Named Director of the Global Education Platform of the United Nations Special Envoy

Patricia Arquette Wins Oscar for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for Her Performance in Boyhood